effort / expense
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effort / expense
The use of time, money, work, or other resources to achieve a particular goal. It describes the total amount of effort and costs needed for something.
Die Renovierung des alten Hauses erforderte einen enormen finanziellen und zeitlichen Aufwand.
The renovation of the old house required an enormous financial and time investment.
expense
In business accounting, a term for the consumption of value from goods and services during an accounting period. It reduces a company's profit.
Die Personalkosten stellen in unserer Bilanz den größten Aufwand dar.
Personnel costs represent the largest expense in our balance sheet.
to go to great lengths
A large, often exaggerated or luxurious display of resources for a particular occasion in order to impress.
Für die Hochzeit wurde ein riesiger Aufwand getrieben, mit Kutsche und Feuerwerk.
They went to great lengths for the wedding, with a carriage and fireworks.
The noun 'der Aufwand' (effort / expense) is closely related to the verb 'aufwenden' (to spend / expend), which means 'einsetzen' (to use) or 'ausgeben' (to spend). So 'Aufwand' is what one expends for a goal, for example time or money.
Für dieses Projekt müssen wir viel Zeit aufwenden.
We have to spend a lot of time on this project.
'Aufwand' (effort / expense) is very often combined with adjectives that describe its size. Common combinations are 'hoher/großer Aufwand' (great effort / high expense), 'geringer Aufwand' (little effort), or 'enormer Aufwand' (enormous effort).
Mit geringem Aufwand haben wir ein tolles Ergebnis erzielt.
With little effort, we achieved a great result.
A very common expression is 'den Aufwand wert sein' (to be worth the effort). It expresses whether the effort or costs invested paid off for the result.
Die lange Reise war anstrengend, aber die Aussicht war den Aufwand wert.
The long trip was exhausting, but the view was worth the effort.
This meaning of 'Aufwand' (expense) is used almost exclusively in business or accounting contexts. It refers to costs that reduce a company's profit, such as 'Personalaufwand' (personnel expenses) or 'Materialaufwand' (material expenses).
Der Personalaufwand ist der größte Kostenfaktor in unserer Firma.
Personnel expenses are the biggest cost factor in our company.
The expression 'einen Aufwand treiben' (to go to great lengths / make a big production of something) describes someone investing a lot of visible effort into something, often to impress others. Sometimes the expression has a slightly critical undertone if the effort is perceived as excessive.
Für den Geburtstag wurde ein unglaublicher Aufwand getrieben.
They went to incredible lengths for the birthday.
work
Arbeit and Aufwand can both express what a task requires. Arbeit focuses more on the activity or effort itself; Aufwand combines the resources used, such as time, money, and work. When the focus is on doing the task, Arbeit is appropriate; when the focus is on the resources needed, Aufwand is more suitable.
Die Reparatur erfordert großen Aufwand, weil sie viel Zeit und Geld kostet.
The repair requires a great deal of effort and expense because it takes a lot of time and money.
Die Reparatur macht viel Arbeit, weil zahlreiche Teile gereinigt werden müssen.
The repair is a lot of work because numerous parts have to be cleaned.
